Labeling machine



Apr. 24, 1923.

- Fig..

. l1,453,020- N. MUSLAR LABELING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. a, 1920 S8 um",

a o lo zo lnvenor Nelson Musur Ays.

Apr. 24 1923. 1,453,020

MUsLAR LAB-ELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2A, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 7 2 Flg E39-f" O O 2/ l 36 j M Sr o 1,2) 7B o o o l lnvenov. Nelson Musur bywwdw Anya.

Patented pr. 24, 1923.

unire iasaai NELSON MUSLAR, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ROYAL LABELING MACHINE COMPANY, INCORPORATED.

matarme Mac-HMB.

Application filed February 2, Serial No. 355,874.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, NELSON MUsLAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Viforcester, county of lNorcester, State of lblassachusetts, have inventedv an Improvement in Labeling Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. A f

rThis invention relates to a machine for applying labels to bottles, cans, jars, and other similarcontainers, and has for its object to p rovide an improved machine offthis character which is yrelatively simple in its construction, which is accurate in its operation, Vand which has various other advantages, all as will be more fully hereinafter set Jforth.

ln order to give an understanding 0f my invention. T have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described` after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims,

Fig. 1 is a side View. of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig, 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a view on substantially the'line amel, Fig. 1, looking to the right, and showing the wipers and their actuating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the label is applied to the bottle;

Fig. 6 is a view of the wipers showing them in action.

My improved machine comprises a table on which the bottle, jar, or other container is supported, a magazine for containing the labels, which magazine is open at the bottom, and means for applying glue or other adhesive to the bottom label in the magazine and withdrawing said label through'the open bottom of the magazine and applying it to the container which for convenience will be hereinafter referred to as a bottle, although 1 desire it to be understood that the device can be used for applying labels to other containers than bottles.

The bottle on which the label is to be applied is indicated at 1. It is supported on a table or support 2 which will be properly shaped to receive the particular container to be labeled. This support or table 2 is shown as mounted on posts 3 which rise from a bracket 4 that is attached to and extends from the end of a supporting arm 5. This arm 5 is mounted on a postl or standard forming part of the frame of the machine, said standard rising from a suitable base 7.

The labels which are to be applied to the bottle are indicated at 70. rThey are stacked in a magazine indicated generally at 8 which is provided with an open bottom through which the labels may be successively withdrawn. The magazine is supported on an arm or .bracket 9 also securedto the standard or frame 6. The magazine may be constructed in vari ous ways without departing from the invention. As kherein shown it is made with end and side walls which are adjustable relative to each other so as to accommodate labels of diiferen-t sizes. rThe side walls of the magazine are indicated at 10, and the end walls at 11 and 12. The end wall 11 is formed on amember 13 which is supported on two rods 14 that extend Jfrom the arm 9. The front wall 12 is carried by a front member` 15 also mounted on the rods 14, and the member 15 is adjustable on the rods so that it can be moved toward and from the member 13. Said member 15 is held in adjusted position means of a set-screw 16. The side walls 10 are situated between the front and end walls .and are constructed to be adjusted `toward and from each other. This is provided for by meansof an adjusting screw 17 which is rotatably mounted in ,bearings 18 carried by the rear member 13, said adjusting-screw having right and left hand screwfthreads that have screw-threaded engagement with the side walls 10 so that as the screw is turned said side walls will be adjusted toward and from each other. The side and end walls of the magazine have fingers 19 depending therefrom, the ends of which are bent inwardly sufficiently to engage the edges ofthe labels and hold them in the magazine. These fingers, however. permit the ready removal of the bottom label from the magazine.

The magazine is provided with a follower" 2O which rests on the top of the stack of labels. This follower is adjustable vertically so as to permit it to move downwardly as the labels are withdrawn. Said follower has a stein 21 rising therefrom which extends through a bracket 22 that is adjustably carried by an arm 23 extending from a post 24 which rises from the arm 9, This bracket 22 has a post or pin 25 rising therefrom which extends through an aperture in a clamping arm 26 that bears on the upper end of the stem 2l. A resilient connection between the stem 2l and the clamping arm 26 is provided in the form of a spring-supporting pin 27 carried by the stem and extending from the end thereof and against which the clamping arn'i 2G rests. Since the pressure of the stem aga-inst the clamping arm is at the end of the arm, such pressure will tend to swing the arm upwardly, thus causing it to grip the post 25. As the labels in the magazine are used the operator will keep sliding the clamping arm 26 downwardly c on the post 'thereby to keep the follower clamped against the stack of labels.

The machine herein shown comprises a combined glue-applying and transferring element constructed to apply glue to the bottom label in the magazine and to transfer said label into a position adjacent the bottle l, and it also comprises a means for placing the glued label on the bottle and afixing it thereto b y pressure. The combined glueapplying and transferring element is indicated at 28. lt is herein shown as a bifurcated platform which is movable vertically from a position close to the table 2 to the bottom of the magazine. Means are provided for coating this element 28 with glue so that in its upward movement the glued coated surface thereof is brought against the bottom label in the magazine thereby applying glue to said label. After this element has been brought into contact with the bottom label in the magazine, it is moved downwardly into a position adjacent the bottle, and during such movement the bottom label adheres to the transferring element and is carried thereby into a position aboye the bottle. When in this position a label-aifixing member indicated at 29 moves downwardly between the arms of the transferring element 28 and carries the label through the space between said arms and onto the bottle l where it is held while some wiper elements engage the label and affix it permanently to the bottle.

The transferringelement 28 is carried by two vertically-moving bars 30 which are guided in their vertical movement in suitable guides 3l formed in the forked guiding frame 32, the lower end of which is secured to the base 7. rl`hese two bars 30 are connected at their lower end by the bridge member 34 and the latter is connected by means of a. connecting rod to a crank arm 36 that is on a driving shaft 37 that is journaled in suitable bearings in the frame. The connecting rod 35 is pivoted to the yoke 34 at 38. The rotation of the shaft 37, therefore, will operate through the crank 36 and connecting rod 35 to move the transferring element 28 vertically, and the movement is suflicient to carry it from a position immediately above the bottle into the dotted line position Fig. 5, in which it contacts with the bottom label in the magazine.

The glue is applied to the transferring element 28 by means of a glue-roll 39. This roll is mounted on a shaft 40 which is journaled in two arms 4l that are pivotally connected to the upper end of two arms 42. These arms 42 are fast on a rock-shaft 43 journaled in suitable bearings in the frame, an'd said rock-shaft has fast thereon an arm 44 carrying a roll 45 adapted to be actuated by a cam 46 on a cam shaft 47 that is journaled in suitable bearings in the frame. This cam shaft 47 is geared to the driving shaft 37 by means of bevel gears 48. The roll is held against the cam 46 by means of a spring 49 that acts on the arm 44. The rotation of the cam 46 will vibrate the arm 44 thereby swinging the arms 42 and carrying the glue-roll 39 from the full to the dotted line position Fig. 5. The glue-roll receives its glue from a glue-pot 50 which is supported on the arm 5. This glue-pot has a roll 51 rotating therein with which the glue-roll 39 comes in contact upon the backward movement of the levers 42, and during such contact, glue is transferred from the roll 5l to the glue-roll 39. During the forward movement of the arms 42 this glueroll 39 is carried across the upper face of the transferring element 28, as indicated in full lines Fig. 5, and thus glue is applied to such upper face.

The arms 41 in which the glue-roll is mounted are pivoted to the arms 42 at 52, and said arms 4l are acted on by pulling springs 53.

The application of the glue to the transferring member 28 occurs while said member is rising toward the magazine, and the yielding connection between the glue-roll 39 and the arms 42 permits such upward movement of the transferring element while said roll is moving across the same,.

The roll 51 is positively driven and as it dips into the glue in the glue-pot 50, the surface thereof will be constantly coated with glue.

57 indicates a scraper which can be adjusted so as to gage the thickness of the film of glue which is carried by the roll 5l. For positively` driving this roll 5l, l have provided the shaft thereof with a driving pulley 58 over which runs a chain or belt 59 that is driven by a pulley or sprocket wheel 60 fast on the cam shaft 47.

Means are provided for positively rotating the glue-roll 39 when the latter has been moved backwardly into contact with the roll 5l. For this purpose the shaft 4() of the glue-roll 39 has a gear 54 fast thereon which is adapted to mesh with a gear 56 fast on the shaft of the roll 51 when the arms 42 are swung into their rearmost position. Therefore, when the arms are in a position to bring the glue-roll 89 into contact with the roll 51, said glue-roll will be positively driven and will, therefore, be uniformly supplied with a coating of glue. Thecam 46 may be so shaped as to produce a dwell in the movement of the arms 42 while the glue-roll is in contact with the roll 51 so as to give ample time to provide a thorough coating of glue to the glue-roll.

From the above it will be seen that during the upward movement of the transferring element 28 it is provided with a coating of glue, and when it reaches the upper limit of its movement, it is brought into contact with the lower label in the maga zine and on its downward movement it withdraws said label from the magazine and carries it into position directly above and adjacent the bottle.

The element 29 which places the label against the bottle is in the form of a narrow blade adapted to pass through the bifurcation of the transferring element 29. This member 29 is carried by an arm 6l which is pivoted to the arm 5 at 62. Said arm 61 has a rod 63 pivotally connected thereto and depending therefrom, which rod telescopes into a member 64 that is piv otally connected at 65 to a cam-operated lever 66. This lever is pivoted to the frame at 67 and carries a roll 68 which is acted on by a cam 69 carried by the cam shaft 47. A spring 70 `holds the roll against the cam 69. The rod 68 has a collar 7l thereon and a spring 72 is confined between the collar and the member 64, said spring constituting a yielding connection between the rod 63 and the cam lever 66. The cam 69 thus gives a swinging movement to the member 29, and this movement is such as to carry it from the position shown in Fig. 5, in which. it contacts with the bottle 1, intoa substantially vertical position back of the line of travel of the transferring element 28. rThe member 29 will be in its rearmost position while the transferring element 28 is moving downwardly with the label attached, and when said transferring element comes into position shown in Fig. l, the member29 is swung forwardly, and during its movement will be carried down between the arms of the member 28, as shown in Fig. 5, and by this movement will engage the label carried on top of the member 28 and draw the llatter through the bifurcation thereof and press it against the bottle l.

After the label has thus been pressed against the bottle with the glued side of the label against the bottle, said label is acted upon by wiperswhich-have a wiping engagement therewith and which firmly affix it to the bottle. There are two such wipers and they are indicated at 78. Each wiper isof some flexible material such as leather or felt and is carried by a -holder 74 mounted on the end of an arm 75. The arms 75 are pivoted at 76 to a carrier 77 that is mounted for vertical movement on two guiding posts 78 carried by the frame. Each arm 75 is acted upon by a pulling spring 79 which tends to hold said arm in its open or retracted positionshown in Fig. 4. rlhe carrier 77 is moved vertically after the label has been placed on the bottle thereby to carry the wipers above the label and then the wipers are moved toward each other into the position shown in Fig. 6, and then are moved downwardly, during which downward movement they have a wiping action against the edges of the label and paste or glue it to the bottle. rlhel vertical movement of the carrier 77 is derived from a crank 80 on the driving shaft 37, said Crank being connected to the carrier by means of a connecting rod 8l. The movement of the wipers toward each other is effected by means of a cam member 82 which is slidably mounted in ways 83 formed in the carrier 77 and is given a vertical movement from a crank 84 of the driving shaft 37, said crank being connected to the cam member by means of a connecting rod 85. The two cranks and 84 are set at different angles with the result that the cam member 82 will have a movement relative to the carrier 77. The cam ymember 82 is provided with two cam surfaces'86 which act against rolls 87 formed on the lower ends of the arms 75, so that when the cam 82 is raised in the carrier 77 the cam surfaces 86 acting against the rolls 87 will throw the wipers toward each other. The cam 82 is also provided with a recess 88 in each side situated below the cam surface 86. The construction of the cam 82 and its mode of operation together with that of the carrier 77 are such that when the carrier 77 is moved upwardly to carry the wipers 73 above the bottle, the wipers will remain in open position, but when the carrier reaches the upper limit of its movement the cam 82 moves upwardly relative to the carrier, thus swinging the arms 75 and moving the wipers 78 toward each other. The wipers will be held in this position as the carrier moves downwardly until said wipers come into cony the wipers are wiped over the sides of the bottle, and in doing so wipe or paste the edges of the label firmly against the bottle. When the carrier has reached its lower position, the cam 82 has moved relative thereto so as to permit the wipers to be opened away from each other, as shown in Fig. 4.-.

The construction of the machine is such that the complete cycle of operations is performed during each rotation of the shaft 37. llhis shaft may be driven from any suitable source of power. I have herein shown a driving pulley 89 as loosely mounted thereon and as adapted to be clutched thereto by any suitable one-revolution clutch indicated generally at 90. This clutch is shown as actuated by a treadle 91 pivoted to the frame at 92. The treadle is connected by a connection 93 with a lever 94 which in turn is pivoted to the fra-me at 95 and is connected to the clutch by a connection 96. The clutch is such that when the treadle is depressed it will be thrown into engagement and upon releasing the treadle the clutch will be automatically disengaged when the shaft has made one revolution. inasmuch as onerevolution clutches are in common use and any suitable one-revolution clutch may be employed7 I have not thought it necessary to illustrate any particular clutch in detail.

While the operation of the device will be apparent .from the above description-` ,vet

it may be helpful to give a brici summary ot' such operations.

Fig. l shows the machine with the parts in the position they assume when said machine is 'at rest. rlie operator lirst places a bottle on the table 2, as shown in Fig. 1, and then depresses the treadle 91. This sets the shaft 37 in rotation, and during such rotation, the transferring element 9,8 is moved upwardly against the bottom label in the magazine, and during such upward movement the glue roll 39 swings back and 'forth across the upper tace of said transferring element. thus applying a coating oi glue thereto. lVhen the glue-coated transvtegring element QS is pressed against the. lower label in the magazine, such label will not only receive a coating` ot glue but will also adhere to the transferring element so that upon the downward movement ot said element` the label is carried with it. During the upward and return movement ot the transicrring` element 2S. themember 29 is swung backwardly out of the way. lVhen the transferring element reaches its lowest position` the member Q9 is swung forwardly and engages the top of the label and 'Forces said label down through the opening between the two parts oi the transferring element 23 and carries said label onto tie bottle. as indicated in Fig. During` this time the wipers 73 have been moved upwardly to a position above the bottle and they are then swung inwardly and brought against the label on the bottle, as shown in `big. 0. Said wipers after thus engaging the `bottle are separated slightly by reason ot the rolls S7 dropping into the notches 88 and thus have a wiping movement across the side of the bottle, after which said wipers are moved downwardly so as to wipe the edges of the label around the sides otthe bottle and complete the labeling operation. rllhe wipers are carried down into the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the machine is brought to rest.

Means are provided 'for moving the magazine bodily vertically on the bracket 9 so as to elevate it into a position` out oi' reach ot the member i'lf it is desired to stop the labeling operation without stopping the machine. rlhis is provided 'for b v supporting the arms 14 in a bracket or casting 9? which is slidable vertically on posts 9S carried by the arm 9. rhis bracket 97 has a lever 99 pivotcd thereto at 100, and said lever is provided with an extension ,101 which is pivotally connected to a link 102 that is pivoted to the arm at 103. The link 102` and extension 101 torni a toggle lever which can be straightened b v raising the lever 99. `When it is desired to place the magazine in inoperative position, the lever 99 will be raised thereby lifting the magazine and its supporting bracket 97 bodily on the posts 98 and elevating the bracket into a position where it is out of reach of the transferrii'ig` element 28.

l claim:

l. In a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table, or' means to place a `glued label on a bottle on said table, a vertically-movable carrier, a. pair oi? wipers mounted thereon for movement relative to each other,l means to move the carrier vertically thereby to carry the wipers from a position above the table to one beneath the table, and means mounted on said carrier movable relative thereto to give the wipers a relative movement as the carrier is being moved.

2. In a labeling machine.y the combina-tion with a bottle-simporting` table, of means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a vertically-movable carrier, a pair of wipers mounted thereon for movement toward and from each other, mea-ns to move the carrier vertically thereby to carry the wipers from a position beneath the table to a position above the table and then back to the initial position, and means mounted on said car-A rier to cause said wipers to be separated from each other during their upward movement and to be moved into position to engage the label during their downward movement and to have a relative separating movement while in engagement with the label.

3. ln a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table, of means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a vertically-movable carrier, a pair of wipers pivotally mounted thereon, means to move the carrier vertically thereby to carry the wipers from a position above the table to one beneath the table, a cam on said carrier and movable vertically relative thereto for controlling the movements of the wipers.

t. In a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table7 of means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a vertically-movable carrier, a pair of wipers pivoted thereon, a cam movably mounted on the carrier for controlling the position of the wipers relative to each other, a crank shaft having two cranks thereon, one connected to the carrier andthe other to the cam.

5. In a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table, 'of means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a vertically-movable carrier, a pair of wipers pivotally mounted thereon, a crank shaft connected to said carrier for giving it its vertical movement, a cam mounted on the carrier and operating to control the position of the wipers relative to each other7 and means actuated by the crank shaft to move the cam relative to the carrier.

6. In a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table, of means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a pair oi' wipers, means to move the wipers downwardly to cause them to have a wiping action on the label, and means to give the wipers ,an intermittent separating movement during their engagement with the label.

7. In a bottle labelingmachine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table, of means to place a glue-d label on a bottle on said table,a vertically-movable carrier, two rock shafts pivoted to the carrier, a wiper carried b y each rock shaft. each rock shaft also having a depending arm. a cam mounted on the carrier and situated between said arms and operating by its movement relative to the carrier to move the wipers relative to' each "other, and a crank shaft having two cranks, one connected to the carrier and the other to the cam.

8. In a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table, or" means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a vertically-movable carrier, a pair of wipers mounted thereon for movement relative to each other, means to move ther carrier vertically thereby to carry the wipers from a position above the table to one beneath the table, a cam on said carrier for control-4 ling the movement of the wipers relative. to each other, and means for actuating said cam.

9. In a labeling machine` the combination with a bottle-supporting` table to support a bottle in horizontal. position, ot means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a carrier, a pair of wipers mounted thereon for movement toward and from each other, means to move the carrier vertically to carry the wipers from a position beneath the table to a position above the table and then back to the initial position, and means carried by the carrier but movable relative thereto to cause said wipers to be separated. from each other during their upward movement and to be moved into position to engage the label during their downward movement.

10. In a labeling machine, the combination with a bottle-supporting table to supvl port a bottle in horizontal position` of means to place a glued label on a bottle on said table, a carrier, a pair of wipers mounted thereon for movement toward and ytrom'. each other, means to move the carrier vertically to carry the wipers from a position beneath the table to a position above thel table and then bac-lr to the initial position, and means mounted on the carrier to cause said wipers to be separated from each other during their upward movement and to be moved into position to engage the label dur ing` their downward movement and to have a relative separating movement while in engagement with the label.

In testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this specification.

NELSON MUSLAR. 

